Rajon Rondo Can’t Shoot
With Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in the Boston Celtics’ lineup, one would have to figure that life will become a lot easier for the other two Beantowners on the floor. There are going to be plenty of opportunities for those guys since defenses will be geared to stopping the Big Three.
The Small Two’s tasks are simple enough: defend, stay off the police blotter, and knock down the occasional open jumper. Piece of cake, right?
Not if your name is Rajon Rondo.
There were only two players left in the gym: Rondo and Doc Rivers’s eighth-grade son, Austin. Rondo, his shirt off, had assistant coach Kevin Eastman feed him the ball for 100 jumpers.
With nobody guarding him, Rondo hit 52 of them. Minutes later, Doc’s son duplicated the drill — only he knocked down 70.
Rajon’s shooting woes have been well documented, but to get shown up by an eighth grader is just downright embarrassing.
If the Celts fail to acquire Reggie Miller, don’t be surprised to see Doc’s son taking some of Rondo’s minutes next season.
96 Responses to “Rajon Rondo Can’t Shoot”
Aug.9 at 11:10 am
Dizzle says:
I think I can shoot better than Rajon.
Aug.9 at 11:11 am
kracka says:
Rajon doesnt need to shoot he needs to pass to Ray Allen, Paul Pierce,KG, or possibly Reg
Aug.9 at 11:12 am
BETCATS says:
Dwade cant shoot and look at him. 52% aint that bad.
Aug.9 at 11:18 am
Ryan Jones says:
Wait — a quick, sweet-passing undersized Celtics point guard who can’t shoot? I thought they traded Bassy?
Aug.9 at 11:19 am
Redrum says:
FYI…Jasikevicius can knock those jumpers down…
Aug.9 at 11:21 am
Lang Whitaker says:
Rajon DOES need to shoot because every team the Celts play this year is going to double KG, PP and Ray Ray and leave Rondo wide open. I know I would, at least.
Aug.9 at 11:21 am
Tariq says:
I here the Celtics want Bill Walton to play the 5.
Aug.9 at 11:22 am
Tariq says:
I hear it too
Aug.9 at 11:28 am
Homie says:
In other breaking news, the sky is blue.
Aug.9 at 11:28 am
Lucci says:
Lang, how can they double all three of them, unless some rule change means you can have six players play defence at once
Aug.9 at 11:29 am
Young Chris #3 says:
Rondo sucks… I’m just sayin…
Aug.9 at 11:29 am
Ryan Jones says:
Lang, I don’t think you could double three guys at once. At least not until you finally quit smoking.
Aug.9 at 11:30 am
JR says:
lets not be so hard on the guy. i “think” i seen him make one completly wide open jumper in the summer league.
Aug.9 at 11:30 am
Phil B says:
you guys better careful about what you say about ex-kentuckyians (sp?). remember when patterson was writing a diary for you guys and how many UK people showed up and how crazy those comments got? also be nice to randolph morris with his driving troubles. and don’t call chuck hayes the PF problem with houston. and azabuike is going to start for the warriors this year. is derek anderson still playing? he’s got a ring you know. but we all know prince is legit.
Aug.9 at 11:30 am
Young Chris #3 says:
For real though, they need Kenny Anderson (the 2001-2002 version - suspect jumper and all), Rondo not only can’t shoot, but does anyone really believe that with the pressure on he can do what needs to be done to help his team win?
Aug.9 at 11:39 am
Sammy says:
Rajon is not a great shooter, but give him a year or two. As of right now no one has been able to stop him in transition even when they know he cannot shoot. Meanwhile Rajon shot 48 percent last year which isn’t all that bad for a guard. Rajon is a solid PG. Maybe a year or two away from where he needs to be, but he will be just fine for all you haters out there.
Aug.9 at 11:42 am
David says:
I believe they picked Rajon Rondo over Marcus Williams? WOw…boneheaded decision.
Aug.9 at 11:44 am
Ryan Jones says:
Phil: I do not remember that.
Aug.9 at 11:44 am
Mo Charlo says:
Rondo needs to visit Slamonline and pick up one of these videos for Rick Torbett’s Better Basketball. If Chauncey and Nash advertise for it, Rondo should probably hop on the bandwagon. Also, Jackie MacMullin wrote that article, so we can go ahead and ignore every word in it.
Aug.9 at 12:03 pm
tike says:
How u gonan bring up all of them players and forget Antoine Walker and Jamal Maglore…but Double R will be just fine i mean that is a tad bit embarrasing that he got beat by a 8th grader but its all gravy…i didnt know Lang Whitaker look so much like that guy on VH1’s reality show model agency the fat guy who arugues with the british lady…hahahaha
Aug.9 at 12:08 pm
Rome says:
tONY PARKER COUDLTN SHOOT EITHER!!! NOW HE’S MVP
Aug.9 at 12:14 pm
Jess says:
FINALS MVP…lets not forget that
Aug.9 at 12:28 pm
Struan says:
If they get Reggie, I’d go out on a limb and say that they are the best 3 point shooting team ever.
Reggie, Ray Ray, and Peirce. That is sick.
Aug.9 at 12:40 pm
Kevin Wilson says:
10 minutes later, Danny Ainge gave Austin Rivers a personality test and a 4-year, $25-million contract.
Aug.9 at 12:40 pm
Shannon Booher says:
I’m just saying… Jason Kidd still can’t shoot… Rondo has that triple-double type game.
Aug.9 at 12:48 pm
DP says:
Hold up now, Wade has gotten better every year shooting wise. Rondo is just horrible. He has been shooting this way ever since he was a wildcat and he hasn’t improved at all. I think my little sister can beat him shooting and she is seven. Reggie, don’t do it man. You were just getting used to the broadcasting thing. play wit it.
Aug.9 at 12:56 pm
baller#1 says:
for someone in the NBA who has not really proved himself just yet you need to have some jump shot
especially if your gonna be open because of the D on the big three
Aug.9 at 1:00 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Rondo had his shirt off, which makes it more difficult to shoot.
Aug.9 at 1:15 pm
mr. 1738 says:
aww so what! they said the same about jason kid remeber they was callin him ason because he had no “J” lol
Aug.9 at 1:16 pm
Ron says:
This was at practice…. not a game…not a game… but practice!!! Practice… not a game… PRACTICE!!!
Aug.9 at 1:20 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
Fellas, you double KG in the post, then run a defender at Pierce, who swings it to Allen, who swings it to…Rajon for the 18 footer…no good!
Aug.9 at 1:20 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
So I guess we should start calling him Raon Rondo?
Aug.9 at 1:21 pm
Ron says:
Wait a minute it wasn’t even at practice, this was after everybody left PRACTICE!!!
Aug.9 at 1:22 pm
Ron says:
No, we’ll simply call him Eric Snow.
Aug.9 at 1:22 pm
Ron says:
No, we’ll simply call him Eric Snow.
Aug.9 at 1:36 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Doc Rivers really should suit up if Reggie Miller is going to.
Aug.9 at 1:58 pm
bball33allstar says:
Celts should have kept West!!
Hes soo much better than Rondo!!
Aug.9 at 2:00 pm
Ryu says:
So lettin’ Allen Ray go was a brilliant idea.
Aug.9 at 2:16 pm
bobby stew says:
if the C’s got jasikavicious and Melvin Ely they would be set.
Aug.9 at 2:35 pm
Young Chris #3 says:
OK… I live in Boston and watch the Celtics religiously (as tough as that was last year), and whether on TV or at the games, Rajon sucks… The crowd loves him, Tommy Heinsohn loves him, and Boston thinks he’s the next big thing, but he sucks. And from now on, when DP posts, I refuse to acknowledge the last line, regardless of how little sense his posts make getting cut-off in mid-sentence.
Aug.9 at 2:36 pm
Young Chris #3 says:
And Ron, Eric Snow could D up… Rondo… not so much.
Aug.9 at 2:44 pm
Phil B says:
‘toine and magloire? dang, i’m a blazer fine and i like big cat as much as anyone. love his dee brown dunk that he apparently think is radical. but ‘toine? i don’t know about that. i think it’s better he goes unmentioned, but he does have a ring. like anderson.
Aug.9 at 2:48 pm
Teddy aka Air Haiti says:
Lmao aww. Thas 2bad. He still has time to buy a J.
Aug.9 at 2:58 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Anyone who been posting here in the NBA? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Aug.9 at 3:11 pm
Norway says:
Ron Harper couldn’t shoot either….
Aug.9 at 4:41 pm
Ben Osborne says:
I actually think Rondo is a good defender and a decent point guard. He’s also athletic enough that maybe he could scrap his current form and almost start from scratch. BUT, if he never figures out how to shoot, he’s gonna’ be out of the League like the last Kentucky-to-Boston PG who could defend but not shoot: Wayne Turner.
Aug.9 at 5:34 pm
aybırtın says:
rajon is pretty decent not considering his jumper but if you have KG on your roster, even brian scalabrine would have an open shot. hepinizin a.q.
Aug.9 at 8:12 pm
nl55 says:
huge Cs fan and watching rondo play is brutal, he does 1-2 unbelievably athletic/defensive/hustle things a game that no one else on the team could do, but he always manages to dribble the ball off his foot once a game (how do you make the nba still dribbling the ball off your foot?), gamble horribly wrong on defense, air ball a jump shot (or not take a completely open one and force it into the middle, which is arguably worse). He could eventually develop into a productive pg, but probably after the big 3 have passed their prime. How the celtics havent picked up another pg yet is unbelievable…Scott Pollard!….and, no russ, not in the nba, obviously, but i only play d3, but after reading this i shot 2 sets of 100 and hit 65 and 63 and i was tired/very hungover lol? i mean an 8th grader, wow…
Aug.9 at 9:07 pm
Allenp says:
Sixers got to Finals with Eric Snow at the one. he can’t shoot. Mark Jackson wasn’t a good shooter and teh Pacers got the Finals with him at the one. Tony Parker won his first ring before he had a reliable jumper. if you have other dominant players, shooting at the one is overrated.
Aug.9 at 10:36 pm
Noname says:
With a big three like this, what you need is a POINT GUARD. Rondo is not a past-first PG. Remember when Houston had the HOF frontcourt with their rookie guard? Well Danny Ainge better find something quick or he’s gonna end up having KG bringing the ball up the floor like is use to do in Minnesota.
Aug.9 at 11:10 pm
truthismygame says:
Mark Jackson hit enough threes, just like Jason Kidd does enough damage to keep defenses somewhat honest. i think Rajon has a lot more athleticism and quickness than either, so that makes up a bit of ground.. if he shoots like Eric Snow though, it’ll be problematic.. can Eddie House bring the ball up? then they’d jus run KG on the high post and that’d cover up a lot of their weaknesses on offense..
Aug.9 at 11:46 pm
jose says:
atleast when he makes a basket the annoncer has a sik name to say RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAJJJJJJJJJJOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNN RRRRRRROOOOOONNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDOOOOO has finaly made a shot man i love that guy rondo will one day shot a basketball and ill be happy 4 him wait and see hes going to be one of the top PG in the 2007-2008 season!!!!!!!
STOP HATING ON RONDO HES SIK WICKED AND NASTY!
Aug.10 at 12:03 am
the true baller says:
oi i hit 93/100 i,m white im 5,6 and i block the hell out of tall people. now if any1 want to say sumthang send an email to me and we can arrange sumthang to prove that i can.. hu is up 2 da test.
Aug.10 at 2:37 am
Azza2323 says:
Wow Ben a Wayne Turner mention, He played down here in the Australian League a couple of seasons ago. Think he played 2 seasons and was one of the best guards in the league. His defense was terrific but hat jumper of his was just downright ugly. It was so ugly in fact that when i took my new girlfriend to her first live game, his team the Townsville Crocodiles were in town, and she said the following ” That guy (points at Turner) looks like he’s trying to throw the ball through the backboard” The guy was throwing up deadset bricks. As a side note, Turner finished 4th in the MVP voting that year and was due to be re-signed but there was an incident involving guns/drugs when he went back to the US and was subsequently let go.
Aug.10 at 4:22 am
Chou says:
Mr. Chibbs wants to come back too.
Aug.10 at 6:45 am
weezy leezy says:
celtics start with a new point guard EVERY year. so when do they ever really expect much from the position since kenny anderson. he really shouldnt feel pressure, jus keep up the D and listen to doc
Aug.10 at 10:24 am
Ben Osborne says:
Love the Wayne in Australia story. And re. my man Mark Jackson, I agree that his mid-range jumper was surprisingly horrendous, but he was pretty solid from 3. Rondo hasn’t proven he can hit ANY jumpers.
Aug.10 at 11:59 am
bigmike407 says:
Don’t sleep on Austin Rivers. When Doc coached in Orlando, his older son got a couple of writeups in the paper, so his seeds got game. I’m a UK fan forever, but I thought Rondo would never make the league because he’s a tweener guard with NO shot whatsoever. Maybe KG can play the one like he did in that ‘03 series vs. the Lakers. I noticed there’s a new Kia out called the Rondo. Do you think he drives one? Just curious.
Aug.10 at 12:41 pm
Ro says:
He can’t shoot. Sebastian Telfair couldn’t shoot. what else is new?
Aug.10 at 1:38 pm
MTZ says:
Rondo needs to pass, make layups and free throws. play D & the occasional shot. I don’t recall Kidd being any kind of shooter until the last couple of years. Rondo will make Allen, KG, Pierce and Bob Cousy happy. So what more do you want?
Aug.10 at 1:51 pm
Shannon Booher says:
Telfair can shoot, just not a basketball…. OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Aug.10 at 5:27 pm
Dan P says:
Umm, how can teams be doubling on KG, RA and PP? That would require 6 players on the court. One of them will always be single teamed, or Rondo will have a wide open lane to the basket. Rondo has NEVER been a prospect for his shooting skills. He’s known as a prolific passer (who played alongside top-flight talent at Oak Hill) who will play hard-nosed defense and always fights for rebounds. Jason Kidd is a worse shooter and he’s an MVP. Watch as Rondo shows the skills that allowed him to dish out 31 and 28 dimes in consecutive games. I can’t even do that on NBA 2k7!
Aug.10 at 6:49 pm
Dan P says:
PS As a basketball coach who has teams of 8th graders at times, I would be ecstatic to have any of my kids knock down 52% of their shots, let alone 70. You think Doc River’s son WOULDN’T be able to knock down shots? Unless his relationship is like DJ Strawberry’s with his father, you’d think that Doc would have taught his son to shoot. Also, don’t forget about the fact that Austin Rivers is rated the #2 player in his age group in the Nation! He’s like the JJ Redick of his age group…JJ could outshoot Rondo too, but who would you rather have running your team?
Aug.11 at 9:00 am
BETCATS says:
Lang Whitaker says:
Rajon DOES need to shoot because every team the Celts play this year is going to double KG, PP and Ray Ray and leave Rondo wide open. I know I would, at least lang that means 2 things 1. Their will be six players guarding 3 players 2. Scott Pollard or Eddie House will get the damn ball
Aug.11 at 11:24 am
youngmuggsy says:
he never claimed to be the next ray allen, he got into this league for his d
Aug.11 at 4:20 pm
rain man says:
shannon booher your an idiot
Aug.12 at 12:18 am
bgizzle1 says:
first of all why are all yall hatin on da kid from louisville, sure he doesnt have a j but dont forget who has oak hill’ s single game assist record with 37. imagine what he’ll do now
Aug.12 at 1:56 am
clarkent says:
who cares if he has a single game assist record of 500… the fact is he cant shoot… its like playing shaquille oneal as your point guard.. you can leave him open behind the arc all day but you wont have to worry because he just cant shoot the ball even if the celtic clover depended on it… some players just cant shoot.. blame god for giving him a forsaken hand
Aug.13 at 4:25 am
Joe says:
Maybe they should just field the big three, with KG playing point. Remember when he did that in Minnesota? Plus, he actually does have a jumpshot. And doesn’t Boston only have 4 guys left after the KG trade anyway?
Aug.13 at 11:41 am
dubbed says:
forget about who can and can’t shoot man… the guy can play ball, period. if i had to pick 5 of the best players on the celts squad right now, he’d be in.
Aug.13 at 11:10 pm
zac says:
he doesn’t need to shoot, he needs to drive to the rim and find open teammates which he is quite capable of doing. plus someone on this squad has to shut down opposing scorers and though he’s short his 7 foot wingspan more than compensates. he’ll lead the league in steals and rank highkly in assists, they dont need more than that. . .
Aug.14 at 10:56 am
Celts Fan says:
amen Zac and Dubbed. Work ethic and other abilities make up for that fact. As a diehard C’s fan, I saw almost every second of the Summer League, and while he’ll still never be confused w/ Ray Allen, he was knocking down some open shots, which is a start. Remember, Kidd couldn’t shoot worth a damn at first either, and he’s developed into a pretty good shooter… (not comparing him to Kidd in anything other than an initial inability to shoot combined w/ a strong work ethic and hard work to improve)
Aug.30 at 10:57 pm
hoblin22 says:
Hahaha the guy use Gerald wallace as an example of a good shooter…WOW
Sep.6 at 1:10 pm
SLAM ONLINE | » Is Rondo About to Get Demoted? says:
[…] Rajon Rondo is a lot of things: fast, exciting, a gawd-awful shooter, a good passer, and the starting point guard for the 2007-2008 Boston Celtics. Actually, if you listen to his GM Danny Ainge, we might want to hold off on that last point. From the Boston Herald: “Here’s the thing with point guard,” Ainge said. “You know how much we love Rajon, and that’s really important, but Ray Allen wants to play minutes at point guard, and Tony Allen two years ago, when he had a chance to play point guard, played fantastic. Our offense was more efficient with Tony Allen playing point guard than with any other guy during that stretch.” “And we think Gabe Pruitt can help us there. Even though we don’t want to count on Gabe as a rookie coming in and playing a major, major role, we feel very confident with him (in that) role in case of an injury. We think he can help us there as his game evolves.” “And then Eddie House has played the point, and we think Eddie is actually a very good fit playing alongside Ray or Tony,” Ainge continued. “So we think we have five guys more than capable of playing the point.” […]
Nov.15 at 10:15 am
nic says:
Actually I think my cuz Rondo shoots wonderfully and beautifully.
Feb.16 at 5:37 pm
JD says:
About seven months after this article was written, look how good Rondos midrange has become. Its a testament to how hard he’s worked.
Mar.29 at 5:08 pm
CH says:
JD, and how wrong this page is. This is the type of stuff that sent Billups out of Boston. It appears some of you never learn.
Mar.31 at 7:16 pm
J says:
You guys stink!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to rondo, he helped boost up the celtics with his steals,assists,and of course SHOOTING! Overall you guys SUCK!
Apr.5 at 5:07 pm
joe johnson says:
Ro sebatian telfair can shoot and rondo cant make a shot unless he is wide open. And someone said he doesnt need to shoot cause he should pass. Than it would be a good idea to average more than 6 or at least more than telfair. telfair has al jefferson and randy foye and rondo has kg paul and ray ray he should be getting way more assists than bassy instead of bassy getting more than him
Apr.15 at 6:38 pm
JD says:
joe johnson, you don’t understand the Celtics offense. It doesnt run through Rondos hands, it runs through the Big Three’s hands. Most of the time, Rondo dribbles down the court, passes the ball to the top of the key and then goes to the corner. If he got half the pick and rolls that guys like Chris Paul get, then he would have 10 assists easy.
Apr.17 at 8:39 am
ryan says:
RONDO CANT SHOOT? LOOK AT HIM NOW HATERS. SEEMS TO BE THE GEL OF THE TEAM AND HE WILL BE A SUPERSTAR. HATERS. Rather have Rondo than an old Cassel.
May.6 at 3:25 am
AJ says:
Rondo is the man. 52 isnt to bad. And hes improved big time now. Just wait 2 years. He’l be an allstar and itl be the BIG 4
May.14 at 7:39 pm
shay j says:
i dont care what none of yall haters say. rajon rondo is great at defense and when you talk about offense he should have been given the most improved player. watch. he’ll keep working on his jumpers and he’ll be one of the greats!
May.14 at 7:43 pm
shay j says:
correction to my first statement. he should have been given the most improved player award
May.14 at 7:54 pm
shay j says:
also rajon rondo is the finest NBA player out there and he is mad dedicated. if you looked at his jumper when he first came in the league and now, it has verrrrrry much improved!
May.15 at 12:23 pm
Corey says:
Ahh. You’re all looking like idiots now, eh? Rajon Rondo is, and always has been the real deal. If you couldn’t notice that in his Kentucky days, than thats your problem. This kid is going to be the future of the franchise.
May.15 at 6:05 pm
ilove rajon rondo says says:
lol
May.15 at 6:09 pm
ilove rajon rondo says says:
you heaters need to grow up and get a life cuz rondo is a amzing player and hes better than some of you heater so stop talking and open ur lazy eyes and see what rondo is really made out of
Jun.4 at 5:40 pm
joe johnson says:
ok sure rondo gets so many open shots cuz no one guards him and ok fag or JD anybody would have ten assists a night if they had kg ray and paul on their team. I think rondo is still under achieving when he has 3 amazing players on his team. Who the hell said that 52 shots was good when no body guards them, i could make more than that and i am 13! he sucks should be doing way better. We should give scal a chance over him. Scals beast
Jun.6 at 7:20 pm
erin says says:
i think you all are stupid and blind if you watch the celtics game you can see that he gets alot of shots if kg ray allen and paul perce get benched the next best player is rajon rondo so i think this story is a big lie!!!!!
Jun.18 at 11:19 am
Trill says:
Bet all ya’ll Ronda hatas feel bad now…….he might have his shooting flaws but he’s one of the best in the league at findin the open shooter, he’s an excellent rebounder and defender, plays the passing lanes nicely, and most importantly he doesn’t turn the pass over. I’ll take him on my team any day of the week. Point blank.
Jun.20 at 3:59 am
Carren09ann says:
Yes, He can’t shoot…but he is the next best player in rebound and assist…you watch out..and after that game 6 he has for making good shoots…he will definitely pratice more in shooting…see u next season..
Jun.21 at 10:38 pm
JD says:
joe johnson is obviously an idiot who doesnt watch basketball and only looks at stats while he does his math homework before he has to go to bed at 8:00. Anyone who has watched the Celtic run their offense knows that it runs through Paul Pierce and KG. Rondo gets a lot of assists on the fast break, which is more his style. but in the half court sets, more often than not, ROndo runs to the corner. Maybe if he handled the ball as much as CP3 or Steve Nash, hed get 10 dimes a game.
Jun.23 at 5:53 pm
mike says:
rajon really doesn’t need the shot though his speed is so dangerous that getting to the bucket is a piece of cake.
Jun.27 at 2:02 pm
Tyler says:
HEY Lang Whitaker! You said: “Rajon DOES need to shoot because every team the Celts play this year is going to double KG, PP and Ray Ray” First of all, a team could never do this. There’s FIVE defenders on the floor at a time, and you would need SIX to double team three guys. Secondly, if there was a team stupid enough to try this, it would leave rondo wide open to drive to the basket for an easily lay-up. The celtics also have some guy named KENDRICK PERKINS. If you want to only worry about the big three, perkins will be wide open under the basket for an easy two points. And lastly, for all you guys saying rondo can’t shoot: THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY WANT HIM TO DO!!! They need him to stay out of trouble, keep himslef healthy, and PASS THE BALL. We all know he’s not the best shooter ever, but he’s the kind of player who can get 10 assists per game and put up a few points. That’s why the celtics have him so can we all please shut up about this?
Jul.4 at 4:45 pm
joe johnson says:
good one jd. Except i watched just about every celtics game last season and im pretty sure that and im pretty sure rondo brought up the ball every possession and touches the ball enough. And maybe he should learn the half court offense. Either run a play, get the ball to kg on the block, hit ray off a screen, or give the ball to pierce and let him get to the basket. Even if he runs to the corner the ball still gets to him and he has to TRY to hit a shot. one more thing my bed times at 8:30 retard